Children in care at risk – reasons and numbers – 2019

Please could you provide data you hold as a percentage or figures including the number of children affected against the total number of children in care between 01/01/2019 – 31/12/2019 that were:

* Categorised by Social Services at risk whilst in care

We do not hold this information as the totals change daily.

* Placed in a secure unit or lock-in facility

7

* Reported missing

113

* Arrested

We do not hold a central record of this information.  Across the year there are 1063 looked after children, looking this up for each one would take approximately 3 minutes, totalling 3,189 minutes and therefore in excess of the appropriate limit of 18 hours.  We are therefore not obliged to provide this information pursuant to s.12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

* Convicted of a criminal offence

10

* In prison or young offender institutions

A disclosure of this total may lead to the identification of the individuals and a disclosure of their personal data.  This would be a breach of the first data protection principle and this information is therefore exempt pursuant to s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000

* Hospitalised

23 children placed in National Health Service (NHS)/health trust or other establishment providing medical or nursing care. Including children who came into care from such settings

* Receiving on-going mental health treatment

* Recorded by yourselves or a foster agency as having committed an act of self-harm

In respect of both of these queries, please refer to our answer above concerning the lack of a central record and the time required to extract the information.

* Achieving 90% attendance at school

Devon County Council does not hold this information

Please could also provide information relating to how many looked after children and formally looked after children died between 01/01/2015 – 06/12/2020 that the Council is aware of and the reported causes of death if it is known to the council?

9 formerly looked after children and 3 looked after children with deaths recorded.  We do not hold the information regarding the reported causes of death.